Wringer



March'13, 1945. c. c. CAMMACK WRINGER Filed Aug. 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mam-far )3) I pub; w w

d m C lllrlllllIIIIIIIII III IIIIII?I!!! III II ,lllI/Illi/ lllt c. CQCAMMACK WRINGER Filed Aug, 9, 1941 lllllrlrllllfllllllll 7'17!!! u March 13, 1945.

Patented Mar. 13, 1945 NT' OFFICE I WRiNGElt Cammack,

Algonquin, Ill., assignor to & Seeiig Manufacturing Company, Ripon, Wis., acorporation of Delaware Application august 9, 1941, Serial. No. 406,111 8 Claims. (Cl. 68-253) The invention relates to wringers of the type used in connection with household laundry machines, and the general aim of the invention'is to provide, in a wringer of this nature, new and improved means for quickly discontinuing the drive to the wringer rolls as an incident to release of operative pressure between the rolls.

An object of the invention is to provide a wringer structure embodying improved means of simple, eflicient construction and operation for stopping the roll driveindependently of the reversing gearing mechanism and as an incident to the quick-releaseof the wringer head and roll pressure effected lease mechanism. I

More specifically stated, an'object is to provide in a wringer structure, which includes separable frame sections adapted to be moved into operative association, wringer rolls arranged to be tensioned when the frame sections are releasably latched together, and drive means for the wringer rolls controlled by manually oper-' able reversing gearing, new and improved means for discontinuing versing gearing drive shaft sections normally urged to disengaged by actuation of thezsafety reassociation, the relationship being drive to the reversing gearingis immediately interrupted by relative endwise movement of the shaft sections when the frame sections are released in an emergency.

. Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wringer embodying the features of the invention and having certain of the parts broken away to show the underlying construction and showing in dotted outlines the head section in its released position.

.Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale takenalong the line 22 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through the right hand end of drive mechanism inengazed position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the drive in its disengaged position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the head in operative association with the frame and the drive mechanism immediately prior to enagement. I

.Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken along the line 6-4 of Fig.

the roll drive ahead of the reincluding endwise engagea'ble While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I

have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that 'I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, butintend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit andscope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims I ,In general, the exemplary form' of wringer structure illustrated herein embodies a frame comprised of a fixed or base section (Fig. 1) having a lower member and end members 2| and 22 arranged to support thereon a movable section or head '23. The end members 2! and 22 are in the form of channelshaped side stiles which .receive and support the bearings for a pair of cooperating wringerrolls 24 and 25. Thus, half bearings 26 and-21 for theshaft 28 of the lower wringer roll 24 and hearing' blocks 29 and 30 for the shaft 3! of the upper rol1.25 are disposed slidably in the-side stiles. The end wall of one side stile (in this instancethe right hand stile 22) is slotted, as at 32, to permit the corresponding end therethrough for connection with the roll driving mechanism. I, Rigid w'th the bearing blocks 29 and3il are carrying plates 33 and 34 which extend above and beyond the upperroll and the bearing blocks to receive through slots 35 the respective opposite ends of a leaf spring 31 located within the head and above the upper roll 25. Operative rollpressure isimposed on the rolls by such means as atension screw 38 threaded in the head for manual ad ustment by a knob 39 and bearing on the central portion of the leaf spring 31.

A wringer gear box is rigidly secured in this embodiment to the right hand side stile, The wringer head 23 is an inverted, channel-shaped member having closed ends and the head is dimensioned to extend longitudinally across the side stiles 2| and 22 and over the upper surface of the the wringer showingthe in this instance is pivotally secured at one end to the gear box; for vertical ative association with the frame. This means in spaced upstanding Q of the shaft 28 to extend the present instance comprises a toggle linkage including an actuating member or reset lever 41 pivotally supported, as at 48, on the left end of the head, and formed for convenient manipulation by the operator. A link 49 is pivotally supported at one end, as at 50, in cars 5| on the end member 22 and at its other end, as at 52, on an intermediate portion of the reset lever 41. The relationship is such that upon movement of the reset lever 41 from its disengaged or raised position, as shown in dotted outlines in Fig. 1, in-

wardly and downwardly to its latched position f full outlines, the

along the side stile as shown in head is correspondingly moved about its pivot point 45 toward the frame andinto operative en: gagement therewith to tension the leaf spring 31.- During such movement the toggle linkage 41, 49 moves just past a dead center alinement of the pivot points 48, 50 and 52.

main tensioned until the released.

The quick release mechanism in the present instance comprises a pair of impact bars 53 supported for movement in slots 54 in the head to en age projections 55 on the actuating member 41; Springs (not shown) yieldably urge the impact bars to a raised position in which the bars extend outwardly from the head for convenient manipulation by the operator. In an emergency, depression of either bar causes the projections 55 on the actuator to move the actuating member 41 outwardly and release the toggle linkage from its dead center position, permitting the head to jump to its inoperative position, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1.

' In the present structure the wringer drive mechanism (Fig. 1) embodies a drive shaft 51 'rotatably housed in "a sleeve 58 supported by and depending from the gear box 45. Power to drive the wringer is transmitted to the shaft 51 by a suitable wringer drive shaft-(not shown). A pair of spaced gears GI] and BI connected by an intermediate cldtch shifting elementor collar 62 are slidably splined'on the drive shaft for rotation therewith. The extended end of the lower wringer roll shaft 28 is connected through a universal'coupling 53 with a crown gear 64 journaled; as at 65; in the gear box for selective engagement byfthe'gears 60 and GI.

- The means for shifting the clutch member 62 with its gears 60, 6| from central, neutral position toselectively engage the gear 60 or iii with the crown gear 64 includes an actuator shaft 56 journaled on the gear box having an operating handie '61 at its outer end. The inner end of the actuatorshaft 55 has a crank plate 58 which carries eccentrically: a pin 69 engaged in an annular groove formed in the clutch member 62. The crank plate 68 may be squared at its edges for engagement by a flat spring 11 (Fig. 1) to define the'neutral, forward and reverse positions of the reversing gearing mechanism.

In sucha wringer construction I have provided improved means for automatically and instantaneously discontinuing the drive to the roll independently of the reversing gearing mechanism and as an incident to emergency release of the wringer head. The invention provides means dependent on the operative association of the wringer head and base sections for holding separate coaxially alined and relatively axially movable sections ofthe drive shaft drivingly engaged. The engagement is automatically discontinued upon release of the head and frame sections, irre-- latch mechanism is In this position, the head is latched, the rolls are tensioned and're- I bearing 13.

- means as a split ring spective of the position of the reversing gearing mechanism.

An exemplary form of the drive interrupting means is best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The drive shaft '51 is a sectional member comprised of upper and lower sections 12 and 13, respectively. The upper section includes the splined connection with the clutch collar 62 and above the splined portion extends through an upper bearing 14 on the gear box. The lower section 1 :13 is journaled in the sleeve 58 by spaced bearings 13 and is held against axial movement by a collar pinned on g 15 on the shaft section for engagementwith the under side of the lower The collar 15 extends beyond the -upperend of the lower section 13 slidably to re- .tion 13. The lower ofthe gear box, is a head is raised. to a ceive and support the lower end of the upper section 12 in axial alinement with the lower secand upper shaft sections 12, 13 are releasably coupled by complemental clutch elements 16 which are disengageable upon endwise or axial movement of the shaft section 12 upwardly. (comp-are Figs. 3 and 4). It is to be noted that the shaft section 12 is movable to engage and disengage the drive independently of the position of the clutch 62 thereon.

Pivotally supported, as at 11, at the upper side bracket 18 having a yoke 19 engaged in a groove 8Q formed on the projecting upper end of the shaft sections 12 above the bearing 14. A coil spring 81 bearing between the gear boxand the bracket 18 acts through the bracket 13 and yoke 19 to urge the shaft section 12 to a raised position in which the clutchelcments 16 are disengaged. Carried on the underside of the head section abovethe bracket 18 is 2. depending element 82 adapted for engagement with a leaf spring 83 secured on the bracket to project therefromfor engagement with they upper end of the shaft section 12. Upon depression of the head into its operative position on the frame, the bearing element 82 depresses the bracket18 against the forces of the springs BI, 83 to shift the shaft section 12 axially downwardly into engagement with the lower section 13. In the event that the complementaryparts of the clutch element 16 are not in alinement, the leaf spring 83 will yield (as shown in Fig; 5), sufficient lost motion being provided between the yoke 19 and groove to permit depression of the bracket. Upon initiation of the wringer drive thereafter, the clutch elements will be moved into alinement to permit the shaft section 12 to be snapped into engagement by the force of the leaf spring 83, thereby completing the drive to the wringer rolls. The spring Si is preferably of suflicientforce to overcome the weight of the wringer head assembly 23 independently of theforceof the roll tensioning spring 31 so .that upon release, the

proper height to allow disengagement of the clutch elements 16..

It will be apparent from a consideration of the foregoing that I have provided an improved roll stop mechanism which is completely independent of the reversing gearing. mechanism and which-is effective to discontinue the rolldrive immediately upon release of roll pressure. The'roll stop mechanism is automatically 'engageable upon setting of the head. It will be apparent further, that the roll stop of the present invention is characterized by extreme simplicity and a relativelyfe'w number of parts, rendering its manufacture convenient and of low cost. Accordingly, the'device may its upper end and by such' I claim as my invention? 1 1. In a wringer having'separable frame sections and wringer'rolls adapted to be placed'underop- '-erative pressure when said frame sectionsare operatively associated,'the combination of a drive shaft, an axially engageable and disengageable driven member coaxially alined with said shaft, manually disengageable means for drivingly con-v necting said driven member and said rolls, spring means tending to urge said driven member axially to a disengaged position, and yieldable means engageable with said driven member by movement of said frame sections into-operative association for urging said driven member into engagement with said shaft.

2. In a wringer having separable frame sections and wringer rolls adapted to be tensioned upon movement of said frame sections into operative association, the combination of a drive shaft, an axially movable shaft section coaxially 4 alined with said drive shaft, clutch elements on the adjacent ends of said drive shaft and shaft section respectively engageable and disengageable upon axial movement of said shaft section toward and away from said drive shaft, spring means tending to urge said shaft section axially away from said drive shaft to disengage said clutch elements, means for urging said shaft section toward said drive shaft to engage said elements upon movement of said frame sections into operative association, said last-mentioned means being yieldable to permit centering of said elements and further engaging movement of said shaft section upon power rotation of said drive shaft, and means drivingly engageable between said shaft section and said rolls irrespective of the axial position of said shaft section.

3. A wringer including, in combination, a frame having a separable head, quickly releasable latch means for holding said head in operative engagement with said frame, wringer rolls journaled in said frame, means for applying an operating pressure to said rolls when said head is operatively associated with said frame, a drive shaft having a separate coaxial section slidable axially relative to said shaft, clutch elements on the adjacent ends of said shaft and section engageable and disengageable by movement of saidsection toward and away from said shaft respectively, spring means urging said section away from said shaft, a driven gear element on one of said wringer rolls, a pair of driving gear elements splined on said shaft section for sliding movement as a unit into selective engagement with said driven element to drive said rolls in one direction or the other, and means for shifting said section toward said drive shaft upon movement of said head toward said frame, said last-mentioned means including an element yieldable to permit operative engagement of said head with said frame when said clutch elements are not centered and further engaging movement of said shaft section upon centering of said clutch elements byrotation of said drive shaft, said last-mentioned means being positioned to permit movement of said shaft section away from said shaft under the influence of said spring means upon release of said latch means and separation of said head.

4. A roll stop device for a wringer embodying a separable head, wringer rolls, and quick release means operable to hold the wringer rolls under or release them from an operative pressure thereon, having in combination drive means for the wringer rolls including relatively "axially movable s'haft sections, means" drivingly' connecting said shaft sections when said sections are in one relative position, I means normally urging said a shaft sections toward a relative position in which the connecting means is disengaged, and means controlled by the head for yieldably engaging the shiftable one of said shaft sections when said wringer rolls are held under operative pressure -means'engageab1e and disengageable by axial movement of one shaft section relative to another shaft section, and means movable by said head to engage the movable one of said shaft sections when the head and frame are assembled for holding the movable shaft section in its axial position in which said connecting means is engaged, said means also having an engagement with said movable shaft section for shifting said movable shaft section to disengage said connecting means when the head separates from said frame. 1

6. In a wringer having a frame, a separable head, wringer rolls, and quick release means for holding said frame and-head assembled against separating movement with said rolls operatively associated, drive means for said rolls including separable drive shaft sectionshaving connecting means engageable and disengageable by axial movement of one shaft section relative toanother shaft section, the axially movable section having an end positioned adjacent to said head, means engageable with the adjacent end of said axially movable section to thrust it axially when the head and frame are assembled and thereafter hold it in the axial position thereof in which said connecting means is engaged, and means for pulling said movable shaft section axially to disengage said connecting means when the head separates from said frame.

7. In a wringer having a frame including a separable head, wringer rolls supported by said frame and quick release means for connecting said head to said frame against relative separating movement, the rolls being operatively associated when the head and frame are so connected, the combination of drivev means for said rolls including an axially movable drive shaft section having an end thereof disposed adjacent to said head, the direction of the axial movements of said shaft section being substantially the same as the movements of said head relative to said frame, and means pivotally mounted on said frame and engaging the end of said axially movable'shaft section, said means being movable by said head in the operation of connecting the head and frame to shift said shaft section axially in one direction and being movable to shift said the combination of drive means for said rolls including an axially movable drive shaft section having an end thereof disposed adjacent to said head, the direction of the axial movements of said shaft section being substantially the same as the movements of said head relative to said frame, a member pivoted on said frame, means connecting said member with the end of said shaft section for translating the swinging movement of said member into axial movements of 10 said shaft section, resilient means acting on said member for urging it and said shaft section to one position, means on said head engaging said member for urging it and said shaft section to an opposite position in the act of connecting said head to said frame, and a driving connection to said shaft section established when said shaft section is in the last-mentioned position thereof.

CLIFTON C. CAMMACK. 

